Refugees & Mentors

Free short courses and workshops offering pre-employment information and guidance for people recently arrived in the UK, often learning English. We encourage and support learners to take small steps to improve their employment prospects. To support people to do this, we offer follow up appointments and work closely with other services.

These are the courses and workshops usually offered at Rainbow Haven in Gorton for half a day each week:

- Pre-employment (6 weeks)

- Job Applications and Interview Skills (3 weeks)

- Learning English (3 weeks)

- CV (workshop)

Refugees & Mentors offers various forms of support, including one-on-one mentoring, workshops, and group sessions. We assist with important tasks such as finding accommodation, understanding the healthcare system, and improving language skills.

The mentoring service supports around 25 refugees a year to improve their employment prospects.

Offers information, guidance and support to:

• Explore short and long term career routes and goals
• Gain recognition of overseas qualifications via UK NARIC or other professional bodies
• Practise English
• Gain unpaid work, including volunteering or shadowing, experience
• Find jobs
• Improve the quality of job applications
• Practise interview skills
• Improve computer skills
• Access other services and networks.

Who provides the service? Mentoring is provided by a project manager and volunteer mentor. Mentors have at least 15 years UK work history, with experience in different sectors and a variety of roles. All volunteers have undergone Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

How is mentoring provided? For up to 5 months. 5 hours commitment each month. Can be face-to-face, by email or video calls, in the day or early evening. A regular newsletter with information about local and online opportunities, including training, courses or jobs. Optional workshops and social events.

How to access:

To find out more email info@refmentors.org.uk

The Work Club offers employment-related information, guidance and support for refugees, vulnerable migrants and people seeking asylum who live in the area of Manchester Local Authority.

Together we offer: Information and guidance, including;

• Volunteering
• Finding and applying for jobs
• Career routes
• Education and training
• Recognition of overseas qualifications
• Learning English
• Developing individual learning and career plans.
• Digital skills appointments in English and Arabic

To Access:

This service is offered remotely through phone and video appointments and through a drop in. Please email us for more information.

Service for professionals - Specialist service for refugee professionals who have overseas professional experience and a degree in Engineering, IT, Telecoms, Architecture or Business Services; business management, sales and tendering, human resources, accountancy.

Individual support to enable people to improve their professional profile (professional CV, overseas qualification comparison, professional bodies, UK labour market research) and support to gain a paid professional placement or job in their profession, with in work support.

Must have a relevant graduate degree or equivalent, at least 2 years specific occupational experience and a good standard of English – confirmed by a written assessment. This service is mostly delivered remotely.